Tesoro fined for violations at Martinez refinery

MARTINEZ, Calif. 
Oil giant Tesoro Corp. has agreed to pay $500,000 in fines for dozens of air pollution violations at its refinery in Martinez.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District announced the settlement with the San Antonio-based company on Monday. District officials say emissions from the Golden Eagle refinery often exceeded air-quality standards for carbon monoxide, soot and other pollutants between 2006 and 2009.

The refinery was also fined for failing to fix leaky equipment and failing to properly sample and monitor pollution during that period. In total, Tesoro received 46 citations.

Company spokesman Mike Marcy tells the Contra Costa Times while the violations were regrettable, most of them were reported by the company itself.